Home Depot to buy home improvement lender
NEW YORK -- The retailer Home Depot Inc. agreed on Tuesday to acquire home improvement loan provider EnerBank USA from CMS Energy Corp., a Michigan-based energy holding company.

Wall Street Business Report
Whirlpool to cut 3,000 jobs
DETROIT -- Whirlpool Corp. is closing three former Maytag Corp. plants and eliminating 4,500 jobs over the next year.

Rising oil prices hurt business plans
WASHINGTON -- When Hawaiian Electric Co. submitted a rate plan to regulators last fall, it included a worst-case scenario in which oil prices would start at $70 a barrel and escalate over time to $119 a barrel.

Go & Do
TODAY
Birds: The First Coast Birding and Nature Festival begins today and ends May 14 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. The festival will include nearly 100 field trips, boating excursions, workshops, seminars and special events. Call (800) 653-2489 for more information.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
St. Johns County Council on Aging, 180 Marine St., is looking for volunteers for its Meals on Wheels program. Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver a hot, nourishing meal to homebound seniors.

News & Notes
Saturday recital
Students at the Music Studio will be presented in recitals at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday at Anastasia Baptist Church.

Neighbors: News and notes from Downtown ...
We plan to take the Sunshine Bus this month since it is free-ride month. We're setting aside one day soon to do nothing but ride the bus. The system operates Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. For printed schedules for each line and the entire system call 823-4816, TDD 461-2018.

FOR THE RECORD
Compact Disc party tonight
The St. Augustine rock group "Those Guys" plan a Compact Disc release party from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. tonight at the Oasis Restaurant, State Road A1A and Ocean Trace Road.

PET TIP OF THE WEEK
If you notice your dog dragging her hindquarters on the carpet or ground or excessive licking in the rectal area, she may have a problem with her anal glands. Ask your veterinarian to determine the cause.

IN SERVICE
Army Reserve Lt. Col. Robert G. Hartley participated in the 17th annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

Neighbors: News and notes from Lincolnville ...
Almarene Lowndes, the moving force for 20-plus years behind the Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, was feted on May 5 by family members from as far away as California, in the Willie Galimore Community Center.In addition to being honored by St. Augustine Mayor George Gardner, she was the recipient of awards from the many groups she has helped over the years.

Prom night Saturday for ballroom dancers
Members of St. Augustine Ballroom Dance Association will kick up their heels Saturday as they renew memories of "the senior prom.'' The theme is "Moonlight and Roses.''

Roadhouse steaks answer 'what's for dinner' question
What's for dinner tonight? Let's sit down to something that is hearty, bursting with flavor, but low in fat. Quick and easy would be nice, too. If you think that description's a tough goal to meet, be of good cheer.

RECIPE FINDER: Rice Kugel
Judith Miller of East Windsor, N.J., was looking for a recipe that her mother used to make in the 1940s for a rice pudding that was baked and looked like a cake when it was done.

Treat mother to dinner on her day
I find Mother's Day to be a joyful day of remembrance. I enjoy the appreciation from my son Jake and my husband, Tim. Indeed, I take pleasure in honoring my own mother, who happens to be a fantastic cook.

Dr. Donohue: Carpal tunnel common during pregnancy
On the palm side of the wrist, a large nerve passes from the forearm into the hand. To reach the hand, it has to traverse a wrist tunnel made of bones, ligaments and tendons. There isn't much room in that tunnel. Any swelling of its components presses on the nerve, and the result is numbness or pain of the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers -- all or some. Sometimes fingers become weak. The pain almost always worsens at nighttime. That's carpal tunnel syndrome.

Penalties waived for low-income seniors who miss Medicare signup
WASHINGTON -- With pressure mounting to extend next Monday's enrollment deadline for the Medicare prescription-drug benefit, the Bush administration took another small step in that direction Tuesday, waiving penalty fees for very low-income seniors and people with disabilities who sign up late.

FDA rejects health claim for green tea
WASHINGTON -- There is no credible scientific evidence that drinking green tea reduces the risk of heart disease, federal regulators said Tuesday in rejecting a petition that sought to allow tea labels to make that claim.

U.S., allies agree to aid to Palestinians
UNITED NATIONS -- The United States bowed to pressure from its allies Tuesday and agreed to support a new program to temporarily funnel additional aid directly to the Palestinian people.

Murder making comeback in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS -- Jane Anderson misses the old days -- the days right after Hurricane Katrina when National Guardsmen with rifles roamed the street outside the New Orleans shop where she works. The days when there weren't many people around and crime was down sharply.

More schools face law's most serious penalties
WASHINGTON -- Falling short of requirements under President Bush's education law, about 1,750 U.S. schools have been ordered into radical "restructuring," subject to mass firings, closure, state takeover or other moves aimed at wiping their slates clean.

Tornadoes in Texas kill 3 people
WESTMINSTER, Texas -- One survivor said it was like a thunderstorm that "went crazy" as twisters ripped through North Texas overnight, reducing homes to concrete slabs and killing three people, including a boy cowering in the stairwell of his home.

Republicans forge agreement on investor tax cuts
WASHINGTON -- Republicans in Congress agreed Tuesday on a $70 billion measure to extend tax breaks for investors and prevent more middle-income families from being hit by a tax aimed at the wealthy.

CIA nominee open to spy law change
WASHINGTON -- As befits the CIA's former spy chief, Porter Goss's only public comment on his surprise resignation last week has been that the reasons behind it would have to remain a "mystery."

6 million yet to enroll in Medicare drug plan
FORT WORTH, Texas -- With just five days until the enrollment deadline, about 6 million Medicare recipients have yet to sign up for prescription-drug benefits, federal officials said Wednesday.

Hacker gets 57 months in prison
LOS ANGELES -- A 21-year-old computer whiz was sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison for taking control of 400,000 Internet-connected computers and renting access to them to spammers and fellow hackers.

Census figures show an older, more diverse nation
MILWAUKEE -- For months, America has been engaged in a fierce debate over immigration.
Pro-immigrant rallies clogged several major cities. A Spanish-only version of the national anthem hit the airwaves. And Congress fought over legislation to tighten border security.

SAT scores expectedto decline by 5 points
College Board officials say they expect as much as a 5-point average score decline in the math and verbal sections of new SAT test, leading many high school counselors to conclude that the longer exam is wearing out test takers and hurting their performance.

Police Report
The following was compiled from police reports collected from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJCSO), St. Augustine Police Department (SAPD) and St. Augustine Beach Police Department (SABPD):

'Bad news, bad luck'
WEST AUGUSTINE -- Melinda McDowell Baxter, 54, waits under a shady tree in front of her 749 John St., house, closing her eyes when she talks about the St. Johns County authorities who plan to evict her today.

Flagler County issues burn ban
Flagler County issued an emergency burn ban Tuesday, a stark reminder of how dire the fire threat remains for northeast Florida.

'Top cop' award to help deputy
By the time the third shout went up from behind the door of St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar's office, people standing in the lobby were fairly certain Shoar was the winner of the America's Most Wanted "top cop" award.

Man gets six months in jail for arson
A man who set toilet paper rolls afire at two businesses and a construction site was sentenced Monday to 36 months probation with a special condition that he spend six months in jail.

Joseph Anthony Caiola
Joseph Anthony Caiola, 91, of St. Augustine, died May 8, 2006, at Flagler Hospital. Mr. Caiola was a native of New York City, N.Y., and had resided in St. Augustine for the past 11 years. Mr. Caiola worked as a New York City cab driver. He was of the Catholic faith.

Etta Catherine Herring
Etta Catherine Herring, 94, of St. Augustine, died May 8, 2006, at her home. Mrs. Herring was a native of Hartwell, Ga., and had lived in St. Augustine her entire life. Mrs. Herring was a homemaker and was very involved with her church activities. She was a member of Ancient City Baptist Church.

Lawrence Oscar Butler
Etta Catherine Herring, 94, of St. Augustine, died May 8, 2006, at her home. Mrs. Herring was a native of Hartwell, Ga., and had lived in St. Augustine her entire life. Mrs. Herring was a homemaker and was very involved with her church activities. She was a member of Ancient City Baptist Church.

John Paul Sikes
John Paul Sikes, 81, of St. Augustine, died May 8, 2006, at Flagler Hospital. Mr. Sikes was a native of Tombs County, Ga., and had resided in St. Augustine since 1948. Mr. Sikes was a retired foreman II for the Florida Department of Transportation, a longtime member and former trustee of Victory Tabernacle Church and a longtime member of the St. Augustine High School's Football Chain Gang.

Give Iran enough rope ...
Many conservatives worry that the Bush administration -- stung by the backlash over Iraq and the president's sinking poll numbers -- has sworn off the military option. They argue that endless discussion and attempts at diplomacy have only emboldened the Iranian theocracy.

Thomas Edward Riley III
Thomas Edward Riley, III, 58, of Charlotte, N.C., died May 5, 2006, at Hastings. Mr. Riley was a native of Fayette County, Ky., and had resided in Charlotte. Mr. Riley was retired from the U.S. Army in 1989 as a sergeant first class and was currently working as a commercial truck driver.

Archie Ray Jackson
Etta Catherine Herring, 94, of St. Augustine, died May 8, 2006, at her home. Mrs. Herring was a native of Hartwell, Ga., and had lived in St. Augustine her entire life. Mrs. Herring was a homemaker and was very involved with her church activities. She was a member of Ancient City Baptist Church.

Emma Dorothy Morris
Emma Dorothy Morris, 91, of St. Augustine, died May 8, 2006, at Moultrie Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Mrs. Morris was a native of New York, N.Y., and had resided in St. Augustine for some time. Mrs. Morris was an administrative assistant for religious organizations.

John Paul Sikes
Etta Catherine Herring, 94, of St. Augustine, died May 8, 2006, at her home. Mrs. Herring was a native of Hartwell, Ga., and had lived in St. Augustine her entire life. Mrs. Herring was a homemaker and was very involved with her church activities. She was a member of Ancient City Baptist Church.

James W. Martin
James W. Martin, 78, of East Haven, Conn, formerly of Ansonia, Conn., died May 4, 2006, at Connecticut Hospice of Branford, Conn. Mr. Martin was a native of Shelton, Conn., the son of the late George and Cora Murphy Martin. He served his country in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Philippines. Mr. Martin owned and operated Martin Construction Company, was elected Mayor of Ansonia, director of Connecticut Engineering Services for 20 years and the Department of Mental Health, member of the Eagle Scout Pack No. 3, National Sheriff's Association, American Legion Post No. 50, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post No. 597, among other positions he held.

Etta Catherine Herring
Etta Catherine Herring, 94, of St. Augustine, died May 8, 2006, at her home. Mrs. Herring was a native of Hartwell, Ga., and had lived in St. Augustine her entire life. Mrs. Herring was a homemaker and was very involved with her church activities. She was a member of Ancient City Baptist Church.

Pauline Harris
Pauline Harris, 93, of St. Augustine, died May 6, 2006, at Ponce de Leon Care Center. Mrs. Harris was born May 6, 1913, a native of Damascus, Ga., she had resided in St. Augustine since 1939. Mrs. Harris was a homemaker and a member of the Eastern Star and president of the Deaconess Board of North City Baptist Church.

Jeanne Marie Johnson
Jeanne Marie Johnson, 78, of Ionia, Mich., died May 5, 2006, at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine, after a courageous battle with cancer. Mrs. Johnson was a native of Charleroi, Belgium, living in Ionia and had spent her summers in St. Augustine. Mrs. Johnson worked as a food service supervisor in the Ionia School System.

Sand dunes on a Saturn moon
Radar evidence shows that what were first thought to be seas of liquid methane on the chill surface of Saturn's moon Titan are in fact gigantic areas of sandlike material blown into enormous dunes like those of Africa's Namibian desert.

Baseball Today
Jim Delsing, former major leaguer involved in midget spectacle, dies
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. -- Former St. Louis Browns outfielder Jim Delsing, best known as the pinch-runner for midget Eddie Gaedel in one of baseball's most unusual spectacles, has died. He was 80.

Mavericks know Spurs tough on the road
DALLAS -- The Mavericks had just shown a mean streak wider than Charles Barkley's backside. It was a few minutes after Game 2 in San Antonio, and neither the sweat nor the emotional high had dried up.

Growing pains
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- LeBron James prevented the Detroit Pistons from cruising to a second straight rout.
Cleveland's star just couldn't do enough to even the series.

lawyer Ron goubtful for preakness stakes
Lawyer Ron, 12th in the Kentucky Derby after being one of the early favorites, is doubtful for the Preakness Stakes because of inflammation in his right hind ankle.

AL Capsules
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Vicente Padilla forced in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when he walked two batters and hit two others, helping the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.

Marlins 11, Braves 3
MIAMI -- Rookie Josh Johnson allowed only one unearned run in six innings, and the Florida Marlins totaled 17 hits to end their streak of 11 consecutive home losses by beating the Atlanta Braves 11-3 Wednesday night.

Lawyer Ron not out of Preakness yet
Trainer Bob Holthus, who only a day before said it was unlikely that Lawyer Ron would compete in the May 20 Preakness, backed off -- slightly -- Wednesday.

Heat facing season's biggest challenge yet
MIAMI -- Shaquille O'Neal repeated the words often, perhaps only to provide himself much-needed reassurance.
The phrase?
"I've been in this situation before," O'Neal kept saying after practice Tuesday, 18 hours or so removed from the debacle that was Miami's effort in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against New Jersey.

Landon Donovan grows into bigger role
FRISCO, Texas -- The face of U.S. Soccer stopped at Pizza Hut Park for a last swim through Major League Soccer's relatively calm waters before diving into the roiling World Cup churn.

News briefs from around Florida
7-year-old's art on eBay bought by Internet casino
The artwork of a 7-year-old boy raising money for his cancer treatments is the latest unconventional eBay purchase by an Internet casino whose previous buys included William Shatner's kidney stone and a grilled cheese sandwich with the image of the Virgin Mary.

Fire crews trying to contain nagging Florida blazes
ORLANDO -- Several wildfires blazing through parched central Florida will continue closing down large stretches of Interstate 95 in the morning hours, but no homes were in immediate danger of the flames, officials said Tuesday.

State attorney: No prosecution for 1964 race killing
GAINESVILLE -- A state attorney reviewing the case of a black woman shot and killed during a race riot 42 years ago concluded that Florida law prohibits recharging three men because of speedy trial constraints.

AOL cuts work force, closes Jax call center
NEW YORK -- AOL said Tuesday it has done such a good job of helping its customers help themselves that it is cutting about 1,300 customer-service jobs and closing its Jacksonville call center.

State DOC to test workers for drugs
TALLAHASSEE -- As part of an effort to restore the Department of Corrections' image, Secretary Jim McDonough said Tuesday that the agency will begin random drug tests of employees, including testing for steroids, which figured in allegations of misconduct by prison workers.

Suicide bomber kills at least 19 shoppers in Tall Afar market
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Gathering a crowd by hawking flour at half-price from a pickup truck, a suicide attacker in the northern city of Tall Afar on Tuesday detonated bombs hidden beneath the flour sacks, killing at least 19 people, many of them women shopping with children, police said.

Iran's president dismisses Western nuclear concerns as 'a big lie'
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Iran's president on Wednesday dismissed Western concerns over its nuclear program as "a big lie," a day after key U.N. Security Council members agreed to present Tehran with a choice of incentives or sanctions in deciding whether to suspend uranium enrichment.

Italian parliament elects former communist president
ROME -- Ending days of secret balloting and back-room dealing, the Italian parliament on Wednesday elected an 80-year-old former communist as president of the nation, the final step before a new government can be seated.

Leader of al-Qaida-inspired group killed
EL-ARISH, Egypt -- The leader of an al-Qaida-inspired group wanted for last month's bombings at a Red Sea resort was killed in a gunbattle Tuesday in the mountains of the Sinai Peninsula.

NASA cozies up to Indian space program
Indian and U.S. space agencies signed an agreement Tuesday in India's high-tech hub of Bangalore to fly two American lunar mapping instruments on India's unmanned mission to orbit the moon, scheduled for 2008.

Haiti legislature holds first session in new gov't
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Haiti's first parliament in two years was formally installed Tuesday as President-elect Rene Preval prepared to take office and steer this impoverished nation toward stability.

Key Cabinet jobs go unfilled in Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi politicians are likely to announce a new government as early as Monday, but they've been unable to agree on who'll lead the ministries that oversee the country's military and police. They may leave those posts vacant until a later date.

Israel to release revenue for Palestinians
JERUSALEM -- Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Wednesday that Israel was willing to release some of the Palestinian tax and customs revenue, frozen since Hamas's election victory, to pay Palestinian medical bills amid signs of growing humanitarian troubles in the territories.

Putin growls at U.S.
MOSCOW -- President Vladimir Putin took a swipe at the United States in his state of the nation address Wednesday, bristling at being lectured by Vice President Dick Cheney and comparing Washington to a wolf who "eats without listening."

Venezuelans protest crime, take to streets
CARACAS, Venezuela -- The swelling bruise on Dorian Ricardo's cheekbone was pink in the middle, marking the precise point where the butt of a pistol struck him before the gunman wrestled away Ricardo's $100 electrician's tool kit.